Fuel economizer



April 12 1927.

. 1,624,067 N. J. PETITCLERC FUEL ECONOMIZER Filed Dec. 24. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 firron vcx Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES NEBI J. PETITCLERC, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FUEL ECONOMIZEB.

Application filed December 24, 1925. Serial No. 77,659.

This invention relates broadly to fuel economizers adapted to promote efficient combustion of fuel; and has more particular reference to means for preheating the air supplied to the fire-box or combustion chamber of a furnace, boiler, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described which is so formed that it may be readily and conveniently installed in any form of 1pc box that is provided with the usual fire c oor.

Another object is to provide a preheater which may be readily removed from the fire box and taken apart for the purposes of inspection, cleaning, repairs, and the like.

A further object is to provide a preheater which is withdrawn automatically from the fire box whenever the fire door is opened, so that it will not obstruct the door-opening when fuel, such as coal, is introduced therethrough into the fire box, and so that it will not be in a position to hamper the efforts or the fireman in spreading the fuel and arranging the fuel bed; but which, nevertheless, will be placed in the most favorable po sition over the fire for preheating the air whenever the door is closed.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a preheater which will retain the air therein until it becomes sufficiently warm before discharging it into the fire box.

The invention also aims to provide a device having but few parts which may be economically manufactured and assembled.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like num bers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the front wall and fire door of a furnace;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device as it appears when detached;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Figure A;

Figure 1 is a front view of the anterior portion of the device which is of substantially rectangular box-like formation and 1s secured to the inner side of the fire door;

Figure 5 is a rear View of one of the hemispheroidal shells which cooperate together to form the preheating chamber of the device;

Figure 6 is a view of the inside of the shell;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the shell; and

Figure 8 is a front view of the same.

The device comprises an anterior portion 1 of substantially rectangular box-like formation and having an open front adapted to fit the inner side of the usual fire door 2, having the usual opening 3 therein for the admission of air into the firebox above the level of the fuel, and closing the opening 4: in the front wall 5 of the furnace. The posterior wall 6 of the box 1 has a major opening 7 therein, and minor openings 8 disposed above and below the opening 7.

pair of hemi-spheroidal shells 9 co-operate together to form a preheating hollow body having an inlet neck 10 at one end, an outlet neck 11 at the opposite end, and an intermediate bulb 12. A flange 13 is formed on the outer end of the neck 10, and isadapted to fitagainst the rear side of the wall 6 around the opening 7. Bolts 14, passing through openings 8 in wall 6 and openings 15, alined therewith, in flange 13, secure the shells 9 to the box 1. A tubular portion 16 projects centrally from each shell 9 to meet and form a continuation of the tubular portion 16 of its opposing shell 9. A bolt 17, passing through the central openings 18 in the shells 9 and through the tube 16, secures the opposing shells together. The tube 16 forms a battle which prevents direct passage of the air through the shells 9, and which deflects the air against the enclosing wall of the shells, thus facilitating the heating of the air by direct contact with the said wall, which is heated by reason of being disposed over the fire in the fire box of the furnace.

When installing the device, alined openings are made in the door 2 and wall 6, respectively, for the passage of bolts 19,

whereby the device is secured to the inner 1 side of the door 2. The said openings are preferably the said wall and the said door. The opening 7 is preferably disposed closer toward one side of the wall 6 than the other, and the.

box 1 is installed so that the opening 7 is closest to the hinge side of the door, so that the entire device will pass through the door opening 4: when the door is swung open completely.

In operation, the air passes, in the diree formed at the four corners of other undesirable e'fli'ects.

tion indicated by the arrows,- through the opening 3, the size of Which may be regulated 1n the usual manner by the conventional slide or shutter (not shown), through box 1 and opening 7 into annular chamber- 20, wherein it becomes heated and passes out, through the opening 21 in neck 11, into the fire box, where it mingles with the ascending combustible gases, smoke, and un consumed carbon particles, and promotes their combustion much more read-ily'and rises tothe top, thus promoting the circulation and thorough heating of the air in the bulb before itissues through the open 111g'21. The opening 7 may be larger than the openingQ-lto facilitate the flow of air into thebulb 12, and is preferablyround. The openi-ng Ql is preferably elongated horizontally; so that the air passes therefrom into the fire chamber in ahorizontal layer which spreads over the ascending gases.

It will be observed that the device may be easily installed inthe conventional type of furnace; that it may be readily detached and taken apart for inspection and other purposes; and thatit does not obstruct access to the interior of the fire box through the door opening 4 when: the latter is opened to its full extent; It is, also, worthy of note that the smooth rounded lormof the wall of the. bulb 12 is one which offers a minimum frictional. resistance to (he flow o'tair alongthe same, there being no corners or unevennesses to produce eddy currents and device may be formed of any material suitable for the pnrposeflmt cast-iron is iileemed preferable.

Having thus fully described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all. changes in form, arrangement, order, cross of parts, as it is evident that many (minor changes may be made therein without de- The parts of the parting from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for preheating the air supplied to a fire boX and comprising a spheroidal shell having a tubular baffle therethrough, and inlet and outlet openings disposed in the shell on diametrically opposite sides of thesai'd bailie, the said-shell being formed of helm-spheroidal sections meeting in a plane"passing'through the said openings and transversely through the said tubular battle, and means within the tubular battle for detachably securing. the sections together.

2. In a=device tor. preheating the air suppliedtoa fire box, the combination oilia shell ot' substantially rectangular box-like formation: having an open anterior side adapted to be secured against the inner side 01'' the fire box door, and a posterior wall having an opening therein; and a spheroidal shell comprising a pair of co-operating heiiii-spheroidal sections havlng anterior neck portions secured to' the posterior will around the said opening, and having rearwardly projected discharging neck portions.

3. In a device for preheating the airsupplied to furnaces, the combination with a furnace having a combustion chamber and an opening leading thereto, of a bulbous body having inlet and outletopenings communicating with' said combustion chamber and its'opening and a tubular bafl'le disposed centrally within said bulbous body directly in line with said inlet and outlet openings and substantially at-right angles to the horizontal 'axesthereof, for intercepting the air currents passing through said openings.

4;. In a device for prehoating the air supplied to tliurnaces, the coi'nbination with a l uri'iace having a combustion chamber and an opening leading thereto, oil? a-lmlbous body comin'ising superposed similar sections and having inlet and outletopenings comnninicating with said comlmstimi chamber audits opening. a vertical tulmlar battle disposed centrally within. said body. means within said battle liorsecuring' said sections in assembled arrangement, and a neck poo lion encompassing said outlet opening and presenting said opening elongated horizontally to deliver a relatively flat layer of air over the combustion chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto alliti; my signature:

NE'RI il. PETITFLERC. 

